Argentina Dominate Fiji at World Rugby u20 Championship

A dominante performance saw Argentina powering past Fiji at the World Rugby u20 Championship on Tuesday. Played at Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch, South Africa, Los Pumitas were 52-12 winners over Fiji.

Los Pumitas were in command throughout. A rolling maul saw hooker Juan Manuel Vivas over for a try early 7-0 lead. It became two tries to zero within the opening ten minutes of play. Genaro Podestá set-up Felipe Ledesma in the right corner.

Ledesma finished the opening quarter with a double. It was a case of the forwards putting in the hard yards for the backs to com away with the glory. In this instance, the Fijian forwards were blown away by Los Pumitas’ pack and Ledesma touched down in the try zone.

With time up on the clock, Fiji opened their account. Ponipate Tuberi went over with Isikeli Basiyalo converting of a 13 point deficit at half-time.

The break gap Argentina more energy. Los Pumitas hit-back well. Following a scrum penalty, Efraín Elías’ side set-up a lineout to maul charge. The 25 meter ended with replacement hooker Juan Greasing Revol in the try zone.

The dominant maul was also accompanied by a dominant scrum. It results in the next try, this time it was a penalty try. The 64th minute score was Argentina’s 6th try of the afternoon. It was followed by Greising Revol scoring his second.

Aisea Nawai scored Fiji’s second try of the match. The 71st minute score was canceled out by Juan Pedro Bernasconi who took Argentina up to 50 points. The conversion ended the scoring at 52-12. A 40 point win was an excellent return for Los Pumitas. A number of players may debut of Argentina very soon. Second-rower Efráin Elías and fullback Benjamín Elizalde were particularly impressive.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

SCORING

ARGENTINA (52)
Try (8) – JM Vivas (2′); F Ledesma 2 (8′, 19′); J Greising Revol 2 (44′, 68′); G Podestá (58′); Penalty Try (64′); JP Bernasconi (76′)
Con (6) – F Rodríguez (3′, 9′, 59′, 69′, 77′); No Kick (64′)
YC (1) – G Podestá (29′)

FIJI (12)
Try (2) – P Tuberi (40′); A Nawai (71′)
Con (1) – I Basiyalo (40′)
YC (3) – A Nawai (13′); E Tuidraki (59′); M Masi (76′)

 

LINE-UPS

ARGENTINA (52)
1 Diego Correa, 2 Juan Manuel Vivas, 3 Gael Galván, 4 Efraín Elías (capt.), 5 Felipe Bruno, 6 Agustín Sarelli, 7 Juan Penoucos, 8 Ignacio Torrado, 9 Genaro Podestá, 10 Facundo Rodríguez, 11 Felipe Ledesma, 12 Tomás Medina, 13 Faustino Sánchez Valarolo, 14 Franco Rossetto, 15 Benjamín Elizalde

Replacements: 16 Renzo Martín, 17 Juan Greising Revol, 18 Marcos Camerlinckx, 19 Jerónimo Llorens, 20 Santos Fernández de Oliveira, 21 Juan Pedro Bernasconi, 22 Santino Di Lucca, 23 Timoteo Silva

FIJI (12)
1 Mataiasi Tuisireli, 2 Moses Armstrong-Ravula, 3 Luke Nasau, 4 Nalani May, 5 Iliesa Erenavula, 6 Ebernezer Tuidraki, 7 Ratu Nemani Kurucake, 8 Simon Koroiyadi, 9 Samuela Ledua, 10 Ratu Isikeli Rabitu, 11 Waisake Salabiau, 12 Sivaniolo Kalaveti, 13 Harrison Valevatu, 14 Aisea Nawai, 15 Isikeli Basiyalo

Replacements: 16 Iowane Vakadrigi, 17 Breyton Legge, 18 Elroy Macomber, 19 Malakai Masi, 20 Sakenasa Nalasi, 21 Josua Gonewai, 22 Bogidrau Kikau, 23 Ponipate Tuberi